The 2011 Times Higher Education World University Ranking includes 4 Chinese universities among the best 200 universities in the world with Peking University at 37th place and Zhejiang at 197th position. The same organisation ranks 6 Chinese universities as the best in Asia with Peking University at 6th position and Zhejiang University at 27th. Among the top 50 universities in the world in Engineering and Technology there are 4 Chinese universities.

With a strong base in mainland China for tertiary education, the country has now embarked on the long anticipated entry of Chinese universities into exporting education. It has begun with Soochow University set to start teaching in Laos. It plans to teach 5000 undergraduates and students at graduate level and offer 12 disciplines. Soochow's international expansion reflects Beijing's increasing interest in becoming an education exporter in addition to the focus for some years on attracting international students to study in China.

Many Chinese universities are still having Chinese Language as the medium of instruction though accepting international students. These students are expected to learn to communicate in Chinese language before embarking on academic studies.

China is an emerging super power and the country with the strongest economy in the world. This is already making the Chinese language an important second language to children in most developed countries in the western world. Schoolchildren at a young age are taught the Chinese Language in many countries including Australia. Thus more students undertaking tertiary studies in top Chinese universities in the Chinese Language will become a trend in the not too distant future.

As for now, selected universities offer many courses especially at undergraduate level in English. The disciplines for which Chinese universities are famous internationally are Medicine, Health Sciences, Engineering and IT. China has shown advancement in these fields for some years.

Edlocate offers students in Sri Lanka opportunity to study at 5 universities in China which offer high quality courses in Medicine, Engineering and IT at undergraduate level an many programmes at postgraduate level. The medium of instruction of these courses is English. Entry to these courses is on merit, based on good grades at GCE A/L. Though students are not required to demonstrate communication skills in English to gain entry to these courses we advise them especially those selecting to study Medicine to have good English skills. The failure of majority students who successfully completed the medical degrees in certain Chinese universities with average English skills, to pass the Act 16 examination conducted by the SLMC to get registration in Sri Lanka is an eye opener to prospective students.

Students opting to study in China must have good English communication skills and a good secondary educational background. Studies must not be undertaken in China merely because some average universities offer entry with basic secondary education and courses are offered at low fee. To make use of the degree select a good university, be very good in English and have a strong education background. If not there is no value for the degree obtained as it will not take you to the future career you aspire to enter into. Be guided by counsellors of Edlocate to choose right. .